TEMPE, Ariz. -- To call Arizona State's game against No. 16 USC on Saturday 'do-or-die' could be a stretch, but this one is about as close as it gets for the Sun Devils.
After being blown out by UCLA last week, the Sun Devils know they're playing from behind in the Pac-12 South and cannot afford another division loss, making Saturday's game at the Coliseum a hugely important opportunity to get back on track.
"We know the games that we have to win, and those Pac-12 South games are must-wins, especially being down one right now," ASU coach Todd Graham said. "So this is must win for us and for them as well."
With a win Saturday, ASU would be right back in the thick of the Pac-12 South race -- though still needing UCLA to slip up more than once. A loss could all but end the Sun Devils' chances at repeating as South champions.
ASU understands the position it put itself in with a disastrous collapse against the Bruins and acknowledged its margin for error is gone.
"The Pac-12 championship goes through USC for us," quarterback Mike Bercovici said. "All we can do is go 1-0 each week from here on out -- beat USC and move on from there and let the stuff that's out of our hands take care of itself."
Bercovici again will lead ASU on offense with starter Taylor Kelly still recovering from a foot injury suffered Sept. 13. Against UCLA in his first career start, Bercovici put up impressive passing numbers and led ASU's offense to 626 total yards but committed three turnovers, two of which led to scores.
"It doesn't matter how many yards you have, it doesn't matter how many completions you have," Graham said. "The bottom line is you've got to take care of the football, and that's the biggest area where we made the most mistakes."
ASU AT NO. 16 USC
When: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. PT
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV: FOX (Joe Davis, Joey Harrington)
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst)
KEY PLAYERS
Mike Bercovici, QB, ASU -- Bercovici has the ability to run ASU's offense with great efficiency but can't afford to commit turnovers like he did against UCLA. His big arm could prove a difference maker if he keeps the ball safe.
D.J. Foster, RB, ASU -- Foster only finished with 30 rushing yards against UCLA, as ASU couldn't establish the run. It will need to do so this week so it doesn't get one-dimensional.
Cody Kessler, QB, USC -- Kessler has already eclipsed 1,000 passing yards on the season and shown significant improvement over last season. A game manager, Kessler presents different challenges than UCLA's Brett Hundley did last week.
Su'a Cravens, S, USC -- One of the better defensive backs in the Pac-12, Cravens could give Bercovici fits. ASU can't afford a bad ball in his direction.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
ASU's chances in the Pac-12 South. No, it's not a true elimination game, but it might as well be. If ASU loses to USC after losing to UCLA last week, it would essentially fall out of the South race barring collapses elsewhere in the division. A win would put the Sun Devils right back in it.
INJURY REPORT
ASU -- Out: QB Taylor Kelly (foot), Corey Smith (hip). Questionable: LB Laiu Moeakiola (arm). USC -- Out: OL Jordan Simmons (bone bruise), DB Josh Shaw (suspended), LB Jabari Ruffin (knee). Doubtful: WR Ajene Harris (hamstring), RB Tre Madden (toe). Questionable: LB Lamar Dawson (knee).
OUTLOOK
It's hard to imagine ASU getting embarrassed again this week the way it was against UCLA, but it's also tough to picture the Sun Devils beating a more talented team on the road. The Trojans are simply deeper and more experienced. It would take a whole lot of offense for ASU to nab a win in Los Angeles.
PREDICTION
USC 45, ASU 31
The offense also failed to finish at times, scoring only 27 points on one the highest yardage totals of a Graham-coached team.
"With those kind of numbers, we should be putting up 60-something points," Bercovici said. "I take that personally as a quarterback, as the leader of the offense."
Greater than any offensive issue, though, was ASU's defense. It gave up big plays, missed tackles and committed bad penalties, essentially failing its first big test in the 62-27 loss. It faces a test perhaps equally great this week with USC averaging 447.5 yards per game behind junior quarterback Cody Kessler.
After such an embarrassing result, one which seemed to expose every flaw of an inexperienced unit, the defense wants to make a statement this week.
"I think last week we just weren't focused or whatever the reason, but it's behind us now, and we're going to get back to what we do," junior safety Jordan Simone said. "We've definitely come out really hard in practice this week, and I think it was good for us. As much as it sucked (to lose), it was good for us to propel us the rest of the season. We've had a taste of losing and we don't want it again."
All week Graham has reminded his team of ASU's road loss to Stanford last season to open Pac-12 play. In that game, ASU trailed 29-0 at halftime of a contest in which it believed it would compete. Graham this week called the experience "miserable."
But Graham also reminded his players how the team responded: A 62-41 deconstruction of USC the following week and a flawless conference record the rest of the way en route to the Pac-12 title game.
While the circumstances of ASU's loss to UCLA were different and the personnel vastly changed, Graham firmly believes this team can muster such a response to right the ship, difficult as it may be.
"I think our guys will respond the right way," Graham said. "Obviously the hardest thing to do is win on the road, and we've got to go in there and beat as good of a team as we've played to this point."
Bercovici, Round 2. Mike Bercovici gets his second and perhaps last start in place of Taylor Kelly, who's expected back for ASU's next game. Bercovici showed positive signs last week -- leading quick drives, connecting with Jaelen Strong, fitting passes in tight windows -- but also turned the ball over three times. It's often said a quarterback's most improvement comes between his first and second start, so we'll see if Bercovici has learned from his mistakes.
Back to reality. After opening against three inferior opponents, ASU's young defense came back to earth against UCLA. Its inexperience was clear, perhaps most in poor tackling, which led to big plays. Players and coaches have suggested players were too hyped up against UCLA and must focus this week on making the simple tackles and not trying to do too much. If the Sun Devils do that against USC, it should be a better day for a defense that gave up 580 yards last week.
Points on the board. ASU's 626 yards of total offense belied the fact the Sun Devils only scored 27 points against UCLA. Be it due to turnovers, stalled drives or settling for field goals, ASU wasn't able to finish against UCLA. It won't matter if the offense puts up big numbers again this week unless one's on the scoreboard.
-- ASU has won two of its the last three meetings with USC, but before the 2011 contest USC had won 11 straight games against the Sun Devils. ASU's win over the Trojans in 1999 was also its last win at the Coliseum.
-- USC's passing defense ranks second in the Pac-12, allowing just 155.5 yards per game. That could be tested this week, as Bercovici passed for 288 yards last week. But ASU might look more to exploit USC's run defense, which ranks 11th in the Pac-12 with 198.8 rushing yards allowed per game.
-- The Trojans may be out for revenge this week after the Sun Devils torched them 62-41 in Tempe last season. More than one USC player has admitted to being embarrassed by the game, which was so bad it got already-embattled coach Lane Kiffin fired. ASU also clobbered new USC coach Steve Sarkisian's Washington team 53-24 last season. USC should be plenty motivated.
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